LebGeeks

J4D

Member

my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

i would like to show you some pics of the process of making this tank until its completion. opinions welcome ! :)

commands from the computer will be wirelessly sent to the tank for execution...

the pc relays controller

the pc relays controller

the programmer i worked on for a while before continuing the tank ! :)

the pc relays controller

the tank

the tank

the tank

complete computer interface with the tank ( missing wireless module)

The tiny FTDI SMT IC that i spent an hour soldering !

USB to serial converter

video of the tank in action  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYPjs9uVJMs

more soon ! :)

Xsever

Member

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

KBIR YA JAD !

Very well done, but I think you should replace the small motors with bigger ones for more horsepower. Nevertheless, bringing the concept to life is phenomenal !

Keep it up !

arithma

Member

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

How are the motors controlled? On/off mode or some kind of scaling behind it?

BashLogic

Member

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

have you thought of using usb instead of serial?

J4D

Member

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

Thanks X !

the motors cannot be replaced but the gears ratio can !  i have it set at low now which gives tremendous torque but not much impressive speed ( as you saw in the video ) but that is good in a way or another :) the concept should come to life soon .

@arithma , its forward/off/backwards for each side of the tank with no proportional control

@bashlogic , it is USB ! :)

Ayman

Member

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

KBIR YA JAD !

+1

Nice job man keep up the good work :)

J4D

Member

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

Thanks Ayman :)

GN90

Member

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

WoW this is awesome.
Is the tank made of wood ?

battikh

Member

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

^^ it seems to be balsa wood, easy to cut with nothing more than scissors and VERY light.

anyways jad, when will you cut this wire and start using something wireless? maybe a bluetooth receiver and an app on your cellphone to control it? you have experience with adruino, you shouldn't find any difficulty in making it.

Last edited by battikh (February 5 2010)

Flakk

Member

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

Great work on the tank jad!
I was wondering where did you get the pcb's and the schematics from ?

J4D

Member

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

Thanks GN yes , it is made of balsa wood , and the thickness i used cannot be cleanly cut by scissors  :) i used a mini saw . Battikh , the tiny wire is an antenna notice the RX inside the tank  , its already wireless :)  i only need to hook up the TX to the computer and it will be a complete system .

Thanks flakk , the PCB's are from EKT jnah

Aj_BlaZ

Banned

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

nice job jad i see you have good experience with pcb's could you please send me a link that demonstrate (tutorial) how to use pcb's i already have the software's but i don't know how to use them  that's why i only use the test board cause my Dr wont teach us how to do it plus what technique did you use acid technique or sending the project to EKT and if you have time take a look to my project too :) http://www.lebgeeks.com/forums/viewtopic.php?id=6006
edit: or mekweye technique  and where did you buy the wood ? from any najjar shop or from EKT i heard you can buy cases to build your project with from EKT
edit2: what module did you use for the TX RX please don't tell me the chinese one's

Last edited by Aj_BlaZ (February 5 2010)

J4D

Member

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

you cant learn soldering online ! , you need to practice , go to katranji njah , ask him about the KITS , they come complete with a circuit board and component placement sheets , also get a soldering iron and some solder and practice on those boards ! :) . your hand will most definitely shake will soldering your first hundred joints  , but after that all will be easy . i have been professionally soldering for about a year now , learned on my own and you can see the tiny SMT component that i managed to place with no heat gun ;) but with an extremely steady hand and a magnifier lens . the wood is from fairco , kornish il mazra3a , he has many sizes . btw EKT does sell project boxes , which i will get for the base station once everything is done :-) , download a program called fritzing , it is pretty easy to use and design simple circuits and even print them ! , i have never printed my own circuit yet , but will eventually do . will post about that here ofcourse ! :)
took out the RX and TX from an RC toy car ;) , your problem with them was because you were using breadboard , you can never get a consistent terminal contact with them !

Aj_BlaZ

Banned

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

then how do you print them and thx for the info ,my problem isn't with soldering its with the pcb itself in pic nb1 how did you print  the lines
ps: i have all the tools for soldering but printing is my problem

battikh

Member

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

you design the layout on a specialized software (like freepcb if you want to go for something basic and opensource), print it on a piece of paper (with the correct scale) and give it to EKT, they will print it on a board for you.

Last edited by battikh (February 5 2010)

J4D

Member

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

nope , EKT does not print a quantity less that 200 boards. as said to me by hussam katranji the manager down there the board in pic 1 is ready printed from EKT he has it in his inventory . but PCB printing is very easy , khalas i will attempt it and post a tutorial .

Aj_BlaZ

Banned

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

hmm so i need to send my project to ekt i never tried that before i thought he was using the mekweye technique  do you have any ideas the cost and does they do this quickly or they need 1 day or 2 to print it

Aj_BlaZ

Banned

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

thx man :)))))))))))

J4D

Member

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

you are welcome ! :)

Last edited by jadberro (February 5 2010)

Abbabbj

Member

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

Hi there very nice gadget
since it is made of wood you can make another version for movement water by removing the wheels +adding two axis with fan like ends one making an angle of 45 with the tank corner (for rotation) and the other along the main axis of the tank for moving forward and backward and for the tank to be  waterproof you could use 3 latex sacs warped along the whole body except the axis

J4D

Member

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

good idea , although i don't like the mess the water makes ! :) besides , have you heard of skid steer ? its the method my tank uses to turn and can be applied in water as well ;)

Aj_BlaZ

Banned

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

hey jad on what methode your tut will be made mekweye method or acid ?

Abbabbj

Member

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

yes skid steer can be used for inverse rotation of the axis which will give u total control for the tank in both ground and water

Last edited by Abbabbj (February 5 2010)

battikh

Member

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

nope , EKT does not print a quantity less that 200 boards.

i used to print my boards there, and never printed more than 2 boards at once...
but that was 4-5 years ago, things might have changed, but i don't see why they would not print small quantities, it's not rocket science, specially if you know them well.

euryale

Member

Re: my new project , a smart tank controlled by a computer

very nice.. now try making something useful, like a big antenna to provide us with decent internet